Even death can’t stop some Evanston aldermen from influencing city ordinances.

When street signs honoring Jack Korshak, who represented the city’s Fourth Ward from 1979 to 1991, disappeared from Asbury Avenue, aldermen were left wondering why — and resolved to reevaluate the city’s street-naming policy.

The current ordinance, passed in 1996, permits Evanston’s honorary street signs to remain in place for two years with the possibility of extension.

But the Korshak signs were removed after an unknown resident complained that they had stayed up longer than the designated two years.

However, signs honoring people such as Bishop Carlos L. Moody of the Faith Temple Church and Rev. John F. Norwood of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church have stayed up longer than two years.

Although private organizations initiate the street-naming process, aldermen approve them.

Ald. Stephen Bernstein (4th), who authorized the removal of the signs, said the ordinance should be applied uniformly to all honorary street names.

“If streets in my ward have to follow the law, so do others,” Bernstein said.

Ald. Dennis Drummer (2nd) said aldermen should be notified before signs are removed, and Ald. Arthur B. Newman (1st) supported prior notification at the Dec. 18 Evanston City Council meeting.

Signs honoring Korshak were hung along Asbury Avenue between Crain and Greenleaf streets before his death.

Korshak, a Northwestern alum who died in 1997, was a proponent of a “tuition tax” on students as a way to ensure a monetary contribution to the city from the tax-exempt university.

Bernstein said Korshak was a “very bright man” who used wit and good will during his long service to Evanston.

Too bad the same can’t be said for the controversy raised by his street namesake.